…new Chair calls for deeper CSME integration, stronger transport links

The Caribbean Community (Caricom) opened its 51st Regular Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government in St Lucia on Sunday with outgoing Chairman, Prime Minister (PM) of St Kitts and Nevis Dr Terrance Drew, urging regional leaders to continue placing the interests of the Caribbean above national differences, while incoming Chairman, St Lucia’s PM Philip J. Pierre, committed to making Caricom more responsive to the everyday needs of Caribbean people. Addressing the opening ceremony, Drew reflected on his six-month tenure as Chairman of the 15-member regional bloc, saying Caricom had emerged stronger despite challenges and that the organisation’s future depends on preserving unity and strengthening regional cooperation. He reminded fellow Heads of Government that disagreements are inevitable but should never be allowed to undermine the regional integration movement. “There will always be difficult issues before the community. There will always be spirited debates. There will always be differing perspectives. That is natural. It must be expected, but it is also healthy. What must never become natural, however, is allowing those differences to weaken the institution that has served our people so well,” Drew said. He urged leaders to protect and modernise Caricom while resolving disputes through patience, consultation and dialogue. “Our responsibility is to protect this community, improve it where necessary, modernise it where appropriate, but never, ever lose sight of its immense value to our people,” he told regional leaders. Thanking his colleagues for their support throughout his chairmanship, Drew praised them for consistently putting the interests of the wider Caribbean ahead of individual national priorities.

“I want to say thank you. Thank you for your friendship, thank you for your wisdom, and thank you for your trust. Thank you for your willingness to place the interests of the Caribbean above our individual interests.” Describing his tenure as one of the greatest honours of his public life, Drew said Caricom remains indispensable to the region’s future. “It is indispensable to our security. It is indispensable to our economic prosperity. It is indispensable to our voice in international affairs. Most importantly, it is indispensable to the future of Caribbean people.” He said that while some had questioned Caricom’s resilience six months ago, the focus should now be on building an even stronger regional community. “I leave this chairmanship convinced of one enduring truth: unity and togetherness is not simply our highest ideal. It is our greatest strategic advantage.” Drew also highlighted several accomplishments during his tenure, including continued progress on reparatory justice through Caricom’s revised Ten-Point Plan, stronger regional collaboration in health, education and human development, and continued support for creative industries, migration initiatives and workforce development. He noted that the Community had strengthened cooperation on non-communicable diseases, health emergencies and the education of nurses and midwives while advancing programmes to equip young people with skills recognised throughout the region.